In 2012/2013 there were 222 incidents - a 32% difference to the most recent results.

The Home Office statistics, which were released today, also shows that the number of authorised firearms officers in the force has continued to fall.

Cleveland saw numbers drop from 62 to 56 from 2012/2013 to 2013/2014.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Nickeless said: “Nationally, the number of firearms operations has reduced continually year on year. This demonstrates the high levels of scrutiny applied by officers when authorising firearms deployments.

Armed police outside a flat on Coverdale in Hemlington (Image: The Gazette)

“A national role out of additional Tasers to specially trained officers has increased their availability to front line officers, which in turn has lessened the demand for firearms officers to attend certain incidents.

“Locally, there has also been a reduction in the number of reported firearms incidents, with a 21% decrease between August 2012 – July 2013 and August 2013 – July 2014, which in turn would reduce the need for firearms operations.

“In 2014, the Chief Constable initiated a comprehensive firearms review which is likely to have contributed to the reduction of the number of firearms incidents. We take a proactive approach to firearms operations, by asking people to provide intelligence through our 101 number or Crimestoppers. “

Firearms may be requested if officers believe a person is a danger to themselves or others or is armed.

In May 2014, armed police swooped on a property in Ormesby. Officers took cover behind street furniture and surrounded a block of flats in Ainstable Road where they later seized class A drugs and a suspected firearm.

And in November that year, armed police responded when a gunman brought terror to a Stockton community when he stood in Harrowgate Lane in Bishopsgarth aiming a rifle at oncoming cars.

Armed officers searched two buses on Stockton High Street, including a number 59 bus, which runs from Harrowgate Lane into the town centre.

Bishopsgarth School was put into lockdown, with 50 children told to remain inside after staff were told of someone carrying a weapon.

Gary Mann, then 24, of Leam Lane in Stockton, was jailed for 16 months over the incident. Teesside Crown Court heard he was a depressive with a drink problem and there had been issues with his medication.

Across the North-east, the number of police firearms operations fell by nearly 40% last year - more than anywhere else in the country - with 385 firearms operations in the region in 2013-14, compared to 627 the year before.

This reflects the national picture. Across England and Wales, the number of police firearms operations fell from 15,454 in 2012/13 to 14,864.

That is a drop of 4% but still means there are an average of 41 police operations involving guns every day.

Very few result in shots being fired. In the whole of 2013/14, the Home Office recorded just two firearms operations in which guns were actually shot.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on armed policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, said the statistics reflect officers’ professionalism and restraint.

“The number of firearms operations continues to reduce demonstrating the high levels of scrutiny applied by commanders when authorising firearms deployments,” he said.